Letter from Luther Bruen, Washington, DC to Augusta Bruen, 1861-03-05
Washington March 5th
My dear Wife:
I hope I shall hear from you soon, and I suspect you will be quite as anxious to hear from me again, after you have received my last letter.
The inauguration as you have learned long ere this, passed off very quietly and without the least disturbance. There was a large display of military and a tremendous crowd of people. Upon the platform there was the whole body of Foreign Ministers. I had never seen them in there court costume and I regarded them with a very anxious eye. How they looked, I shall tell you when I come home.
Every body was armed, nearly, and the southerners were very mad, so that you can easily believe it would not have taken very much to have stated a bloody fight. I am very glad that nothing occurred to commence it for I am afraid I should have been oblige to take a hand in it.
I went to the Smithsonian- an Institute this morning. It is a very interesting place, but it requires more time to see it all than most persons devote to it. I saw some exceedingly curious things and some birds of almost inconceivable beauty.
Tomorrow I expect to go to the Capital, where I have not been (inside) yet & perhaps to the Navy yard & the War steamer.
The Cabinet was not such as our people desired. How it will be about the P.O. is still in the dark. I saw Mr. Schenck & Mr. Corwin in reference it today. They are going to bring the matter before the President tomorrow. The result of their intervies I will write you tomorrow evening._ I called on Mr. Chase this morning but did not find him in. I shall try to see him tomorrow and learn what side he intends to take if any. I suppose it will be very difficult to see him as he will be very much occupied.
The crowd was thinned out very greatly & we are much more comfortable in consequence.
My pictures are a great consolation and I seem almost at home when I look upon the counterfeit presentment of the dear ones I have left behind.
Mr. Schenck will leave for Columbus tomorrow or the day after, to canvass for the place vacated by the elevation of Mr. Chase to the Cabinet. I hope he may be successful.
Robert and I room together. George Shaw was here yesterday and today. He went home this afternoon.
It is now past one o'clock so good night my dear.
L. B. Bruen
P.S. Had a talk with Chase this morning & am of opinion that he intends to support Bruen, Schenck & Corwin (T) will have a talk with Lincoln this afternoon. When I have heard the result of this, I will know better how the land lies. _ I have not time to spare to add more, but I will write tonight again_ Thine faithfully
LBB.
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March 5, 1861
Bruen, Luther Barnett
Washington, DC
4 pages; comments on President Abraham Lincoln's inauguration
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Bruen, Luther Barnett -- Correspondence
Catharine Mitchill '31 Collection of Family Letters, Wellesley College Library, Special Collections
MSS.6.132
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http://repository.wellesley.edu/mitchill/132
